Fangxian Heretical Path

Chapter 24 Dou Sufu's Encounters with All Her Hatreds (5 words)

The sound of flowing water was constant, and the smell was foul.

The astonishment in Fang Shu's eyes quickly turned into bewilderment.

The figure in the ditch also noticed him. Startled, but not daring to make a move, the person lowered their voice and said:
"who!?"

Fang Shu didn't dodge. He thought for a moment, then squatted down beside the ditch and answered in a low voice:
"It's not a bad person, Sister Dou, it's me, from next door."

“It’s you…” Dou Sufu’s expression softened. She hesitated, and her body involuntarily trembled.

Fang Shu, with his ears perked up, could clearly hear the rushing water in the ditch, which trembled and gurgled with each breath. Even though he tried to suppress his distracting thoughts, the scene still sent a shiver down his spine.

Hearing his breathing, Dou Sufu's face flushed red, and she muttered a curse under her breath:

"You still say you're not a bad person? You out-of-touch bastard!"

However, she didn't scream. Instead, she scooped up water from the ditch and rustled as she adjusted her sleeves and belt.

When she stood up again, the wet nurse, Xi Shi, remained calm and composed, and said to Fang Shu:
"What a coincidence, it turns out to be the guy next door."

"I'm washing clothes, are you coming too?"

Under the moonlight, Fang Shu's gaze couldn't help but fall on the other person's tight, close-fitting clothes.

It was a soft, lotus-root-colored silk robe, and whether it was intentional or unintentional, it was timidly dripping water.

He assumed the other person was genuinely washing clothes and replied:
"not coming."

Dou Sufu nodded, then pressed her hips, lifted her skirt, and walked towards the paper house on her own.

When she walked back to the paper house, from her perspective, she saw that the square bundles by the ditch were like dogs, following her like they were sniffing her rear end.

This made her blush with embarrassment and anger. She turned her head and glared fiercely at Fang Shu, about to start yelling at him.

But Fang Shu's next words made her swallow the words she was about to say.

Fang Shu's tone was sincere:

"I am disturbing Sister Dou late at night because I am worried about the strongman, but I also wanted to ask about my second uncle's whereabouts, so I came here abruptly. I hope you will forgive me."

"Is that so?" Dou Sufu seemed to know something, and she covered her lips in surprise.

The wet nurse, Xi Shi, leaned against the door. After pondering for a while, she sighed, creaked open the paper door, and beckoned Fang Shu inside.
"Come in and explain in detail."

Fang Shu took a step, but when he thought of what had just happened, he hesitated and hesitated, wondering whether he should ask the question from outside the door.

Dou Sufu glared at him fiercely and whispered:

"Just come in when I tell you to! What are you dawdling for? If you don't come in and someone sees you, it will ruin my reputation."

"I'm sorry to bother you." Upon hearing this, Fang Shu quickly cupped his hands in greeting, then bowed and slipped into the paper house.

Upon entering Dou Sufu's paper house, a rich aroma of tofu and milk wafts through the air.

The house was about the same size as my second uncle Yu Le's, but it was decorated quite well, giving it a very feminine feel. There was also a cellar dug down, which expanded the house considerably, and it was filled with many bottles and jars.

A small oil lamp, about the size of a bean, was lit in the room. Its light was dim and yellowish, but the smell was pleasant and smoky.

Dou Sufu pointed to the low stool in the room: "Sit."

She herself sat sideways on the paper bed, her hips pressing the sheets tightly against the bed, making her extremely conspicuous.

Noticing Fang Shu's gaze, Dou Sufu glared at him again and said irritably:

"What are you doing looking around when you're still a little kid with nothing to do? Just ask me if you have any questions."

Fang Shu nodded apologetically, exhaled a breath of stale air, and hurriedly asked the other party where his second uncle had gone and why he had disappeared.

Seeing that the conversation had turned to serious matters, Dou Sufu sighed softly, suppressed her embarrassment and anger, and slowly revealed what she knew.

Fang Shu listened silently for a while and found that what the other party said was not much different from what the talisman master Li Yuan said, but it was a little more detailed. For example, his second uncle had entered the mine three days ago and deliberately chose to leave in the early morning, and it seemed that he had found a companion.

For example, Cheng Guanzi has been quite arrogant in the paper mill lately, much more so than before. He looks down on everyone he meets, and those who don't know the situation might think he's developed strabismus.

Fang Shu digested the information, then immediately stood up and bowed to Dou Sufu:
"Thank you for telling me, Sister Dou."

He hesitated for a moment, then added, "I hope Sister Dou won't tell anyone about my visit tonight, lest..."

Before he could finish speaking, Dou Sufu nodded mockingly:
"Breaking into a widow's house at night, I'm afraid you'll tell everyone and ruin my reputation."

Fang Shu was stunned when he heard the words "Widow's Gate".

He stopped abruptly, not saying anything more, and only slowly added after Dou Sufu had finished her mocking remarks:
"So that Cheng Guanzi doesn't overhear and take his anger out on my sister."

These words startled Dou Sufu, who realized she had misunderstood.

Her face flushed slightly, and her eyes darted around, but when she saw Fang Shu's wooden expression, she chuckled, her face carrying three parts mockery and seven parts teasing, and said:
"What, didn't your second uncle tell you about our identity?"

She then muttered, "Don't think we're afraid of that Cheng Guanzi. I'm not telling you this because I pity you; I also have a grudge against that Cheng Guanzi."

If it weren't for him back then, saying there was a treasure mine in the mountains and leading a bunch of people out of town, my mother wouldn't have become a widow.

He was the only one who came back alive. If he hadn't betrayed the Black Tiger Dojo again... we would have risked our lives to avenge our beloved and take his life!

As she continued speaking, Dou Sufu's fair face was no longer one of shame and anger, but rather one of gritted teeth, revealing a deep-seated hatred that had lingered for years.

Fang Shu pondered these words carefully and recalled that his second uncle had indeed vaguely mentioned this neighbor before.

However, the second uncle did not say directly that the other party was a widow. Instead, he said lightly that Dou Sufu was also a person with a tragic fate, and that Fang Shuwan should not underestimate her.

Unexpectedly, there was such a thing behind this!

Fang Shu quickly cupped his hands in apology to the other party.

When Dou Sufu saw Fang Shu's apologetic expression, the hatred on her face vanished.

She regained her composure and changed the subject:
"These old stories aren't worth talking about. After all, who in this paper mill doesn't have a grudge against that Cheng Guanzi? Mine is probably nothing special."

She spoke so lightly, as if the hatred she had felt just moments before was merely an illusion. She paused, then instructed Fang Shu:

“It’s your second uncle who has a grudge against that scoundrel Cheng Guanzi. You’re still young, so don’t be impetuous, lest… make your second uncle even more heartbroken.”

The woman sighed, "In this market, everyone goes through this, one generation after another. You'll get used to it."

Fang Shu understood the other person's meaning; it was simply a matter of "avoiding the tragedy of an older person outliving their younger one."

He didn't refute, but instead nodded seriously: "Thank you for your advice, sister. I'll remember it."

Seeing Fang Shu so obedient, Dou Sufu's gaze softened considerably, as if she were looking at her own younger brother.

Seeing that Fang Shu stood up as if to take his leave, she immediately said, "Please sit down first."

Then Dou Sufu bent over and, in the narrow paper house, lifted the wooden bucket from the cellar.

She lifted the lid of the bucket, and a burst of hot air and a pleasant fragrance filled the entire room.

With his back to Fang Shu, the other person rolled up his sleeves, revealing his fair wrists and arms, and then, holding the edge of the bucket, scooped out a bowl of even whiter milk tofu from the bucket.

Fang Shu calmed his distracting thoughts, but when he smelled the aroma of the milk tofu, the spiritual flavor of the milk tofu immediately came back to him.

He couldn't help but glance over there.

As soon as Dou Sufu turned around, she saw Fang Shu staring intently at the milk bowl in her hand.

She couldn't help but laugh, then immediately plopped down on the closed lid of the milk bucket and placed the milk bowl on the table.
"You little glutton, here, have some."

But Fang Shu stared intently at the milk tofu in the bowl, not touching it, and said in a deep voice:

"Sister, I have no money."

Dou Sufu smiled and said, "I know you don't have any money, so consider this bowl a belated gift from your older sister."

She rested one hand on her chin and the other on her hand, smiling as she looked at Fang Shu.

But as Fang Shu looked at the milk tofu on the table, his thoughts suddenly drifted, and he remembered something.

He swallowed hard, his face showing hesitation, and looked at Dou Sufu in front of him.

Dou Sufu was initially puzzled.

She initially thought there was something on her face, but when she saw Fang Shu's shimmering, seemingly lowered gaze, she realized it was a mistake.

She suddenly remembered something, tightened her arms around herself, and her face instantly burned, turning red and hot like fire.

"Pah!" Dou Sufu immediately spat inwardly:

"You brainless idiot, what are you thinking at such a young age?"

She hesitated for a moment.

The woman was pondering whether to explain to Fang Shu how the milk shops on Blood Street operated, but she was also worried that it would ruin her own business.

Sensing Fang Shu's unease and the strange atmosphere in the paper house, especially considering Fang Shu's young age.

Dou Sufu finally regained her composure, poked Fang Shu's head, and muttered to herself:
"You're so young and you don't even think about making things right."

She immediately gave a brief explanation of the ins and outs of the milk shops in Blood Street. It turned out that the milk shops in Blood Street were a mix of genuine and fake products. Of the genuine dairy products they sold, only half were pure, while the other half were not very pure.

After all, there are so many customers coming and going on a street every day. Even if they all use cow's milk or mare's milk, it would still take hundreds or thousands of cows to supply them, not to mention people.

Fang Shu listened intently, looking completely absorbed.

Dou Sufu said irritably:

"If you want to eat the real thing, go to that heartless, filthy place and buy it. The girls there can make it fresh for you."

Fang Shu understood that the other party was referring to brothels and brothels in the market.

He slowly came to his senses and said:

"So, the milk shops in Blood Street are mostly just a gimmick, used to comfort those who sell their blood for money?"

This was the first time Dou Sufu had heard the term "comforting gimmick," but upon closer reflection, she realized it was indeed true.

Vampires sell their blood for money, and milk shops sell milk; with this "gimmick," everyone thinks they're all the same kind of people.

In this way, the vampires would willingly buy milk products to feel better and compensate for the frustration of selling their blood, and the milk shops would therefore see a steady increase in business.

Although she agreed with Fang Shu in her heart, Dou Sufu hummed:

"It's not just a gimmick. This bucket of milk will cost us one or two spirit stones. To infuse the milk with spiritual energy, we also need corresponding spells to harmonize it."

Although it doesn't qualify as alchemy or medicine making, it is a kind of 'medicinal cuisine' that is very nourishing and much better than milk as you might think.

Don't believe me? Just try it and you'll see.

Seeing that Fang Shu was still hesitant, Dou Sufu feigned anger:
"Don't worry, I didn't poison you, little guy. If you really did die in my house, who knows what people outside would say about me."

Fang Shu felt it would be impolite to refuse, so he could only obediently accept and quickly picked up the milk tofu.

After finishing a bowl of milk, he felt a warm sensation rising in his stomach, and his whole body felt flushed.

Compared to the strong and harsh effects of the Nourishing Essence Pill, which were like undercooked rice, Dou Sufu's dairy products were like a bowl of hot porridge, cooked until soft and thick. After eating a bowl, one felt both full and comfortable.

After receiving the nourishing milk food costing fifty coins a bowl, Fang Shu's body, which had been buried in hard training all day, was instantly free of fatigue.

He really wanted another bowl!
Fang Shu stared intently at Dou Sufu, but Dou Sufu was no longer as generous as before.

She instinctively stepped back, firmly sitting on the milk bucket, and tapped it as a warning.
"One or two spirit stones, one bucket."

Upon hearing this, Fang Shu's piercing gaze immediately vanished, but he did not show disappointment; instead, he looked at the other person with gratitude.

It's already quite remarkable that the other party would give him a bowl of this medicinal cuisine for free.

When Dou Sufu saw Fang Shu's well-behaved and sensible appearance, her face did not change, but her heart softened.

After thinking for a moment, she simply lifted out an even larger bucket from the cellar. This bucket was as big as a water vat, and it made her whole body tense from the effort.

Fang Shu wanted to help, but he restrained himself, afraid that any excessive actions would cause Sister Dou to misunderstand.

Finally, Dou Sufu lifted the lid of the bucket, scooped up some water with a ladle, and handed the ladle, water and all, to Fang Shu with her fair fingers gripping the handle.

"Here you go. I can't give you much tofu, but you can have your fill of the pickled broth."

Fang Shu confirmed that it was indeed possible to eat it directly with a ladle, and said:

"Sister is so kind!"

Without any hesitation, he gulped down three large ladles of the drink, as if he were rushing to sell his blood.

This ravenous appearance made Dou Sufu gasp and mutter to herself:
"If you eat so much filth, you might need to pee..."

She stopped talking halfway through her sentence, her eyes darting around.

After Fang Shu had eaten his fill of the fermented broth, his face looked even more relaxed.

Although the spiritual energy in this dregs is negligible, it is still highly nourishing, comparable to the blood buns in the dojo.

"Thank you for your hospitality, sister. I won't bother you any longer."

Fang Shu wiped his mouth, bowed to Dou Sufu in greeting, and made a gesture to take his leave.

Dou Sufu didn't try to keep him any longer. She gracefully walked to the door, intending to let him out.

But suddenly.

Dou Sufu's voluptuous body quickly blocked the door and made a shushing gesture towards Fang Shu.

Fang Shu was puzzled.

Soon, he heard running sounds outside the door, along with sobbing and wailing:

"Don't hit me! Don't hit me!"

A woman was running away outside the door at night.

Behind the other person, there could still be sounds of cursing and swearing.
"Run? Where can you run to!"

You filthy bitch from the mountains, you'll be begging me to take you in later.

The woman who ran away at night sounded very young, and Fang Shu felt that her voice was vaguely familiar.

The man who was cursing sounded very old, like an old monkey.

"No! I'm not a slave, I didn't come here to be..." The woman seemed to have no choice but to be grabbed immediately, and she could only cry out loud.

But the old man didn't seem to pity her, and a slap rang out.

"No? You really think that matchmaker said I bought you for that debt-collecting, money-losing wretch in the house?"
Bah! Why don't you take a piss and look at yourself in the mirror? I only bought you to bring good luck!
"Once you've served me until I die, you'll be buried with me!"

A series of vicious, resentful, and wailing sounds echoed through the paper mill, seemingly oblivious to the presence of others, sounding exceptionally mournful.

But in the paper mill, no one went out to deal with it, and they didn't even bother to open the windows.

Dou Sufu, who was pressing down on the door, looked forlorn, and murmured softly:
"What an insult!"

Fang Shu naturally wouldn't invite trouble for no reason.

Even when he was still making a living among the Fang family in the mortal realm, he learned to respect the fate of others, including his own.

Fang Shu simply asked Dou Sufu in a low voice:

"Is that woman outside... Su Qingao?"

"Su Qingao?" Dou Sufu looked at him suspiciously, sizing him up.

"You little rascal, how do you even know Su Meizi's given name?"

Fang Shu frankly told Su Qingao that he and Su Qingao had come from the mortal world on the same snake boat.

Hearing this, Dou Sufu's suspicions vanished, and she muttered, "They're all unfortunate people."

Only after asking carefully did Fang Shu learn the truth.

It turns out that Su Qingao thought she had married into the paper mill, into that sickly man, and was there to take advantage of the old man's family's extinction.

It turned out she was completely scammed by her "close female friend".

That sickly woman was just a front; her real buyer was that sickly woman's father.

Not a single word from the matchmaker's mouth is true.

More specifically, the sickly father was taking a concubine for himself. He wanted to bring good luck to his son, and if his son really died, he could try his best to get Su Qingao to have another child for him.

As for why Dou Sufu knew so much about it...

Before Su Qingao even arrived, that old beast shamelessly started advertising the marriage proposal in the paper mill.

After buying Suqin Gao, the old beast was still smug, telling everyone that girls from the mountains were cheap.

This fellow even gave the matchmaker a good talk, saying that if everyone went to the place where they came ashore to pick, they would definitely not be able to find such a stupid and good-looking one!
Fang Shu listened silently.

After waiting for the old man and the young woman to finish their commotion and return to their hideout, he bid farewell to Dou Sufu and headed alone toward the Dugu Pavilion.

It was slightly chilly at night.

But once outside the paper mill, Fang Shu's expression turned even colder, completely different from before, devoid of any childishness.

As he walked, whether it was because of the bowl of milk tofu or because of what Su Qingao had gone through, he felt a fire burning in his heart and his whole body was full of energy. He only wanted to get back to the temple as soon as possible to strengthen his muscles and bones and refine the magic weapon.

So he returned to the Dugu Pavilion, but instead of going to bed, he continued to practice his nighttime skills there.

Bang bang bang!
"All suffering in the world stems from physical weakness."

Fang Shu felt a burning passion within him, yet his expression remained calm as he continuously chanted the incantation for immortal cultivation:

"All hatred and resentment are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, dew, and lightning; only great Dharma power can subdue them!"

(End of this chapter)